Summer Time!

Saturday afternoon in the backyard.

Tuesday evening dinner time; picnic in the back yard.

My kids have both let me know we will be spending a LOT of time outdoors this summer.  A-OK with me!  They do tend to get a little crazy by the end of the night, so we try to get them corralled inside for baths and some "inside time" at least an hour before bedtime.  Our most recent debacle was during a wagon ride to Marsh.  This happened soon after the pool picture above (the picture was taken after a morning spent at the Zville market and park...so you see how boring the day was).  Jeff was pulling the wagon, with the kids at his back.  Melanie spotted an ant, and decided to jump out of the wagon.  Out of...beneath...whichever definition you would like to go with.  It was a bit scary at first, especially since she claimed she couldn't walk on it, etc..... in the end, it shaved some skin off her ankle, but she's fine.

The kids went through an entire two-pack box of "Pop-Its" on Tuesday night (I got carded to buy them...I blatantly let the clerk know I was taking them home for my 2-yo and 4-yo.....)  The kids went through the entire box in 2.2 seconds, and had a blast.

Gigi & Poppy

After lunch, Joey climbed right up in my arms for some snuggling.  Gigi suggested he go sit in Poppy's lap, and he made a beeline for the living room.....Boys relaxing, watching golf

Checking out the flowers with Gigi in pink high heels.

What is the pool temp?

Two girls excited for their treat

Random shots from around 801.  

Slip & Slide

"Here's how you do it, Joey."

"The box says it's for kids age 5-8.  I'm a lucky kid for getting it for my 2nd birthday!!"

Melanie's dance moves??

"Mommy, can I just play in this mud puddle please??"

We spent Sunday afternoon at Gigi & Poppy's house enjoying our Slip & Slide....their pool wasn't "quite" ready, and I wasn't "quite" ready to help them with it.  By the time we got home (kids slept the whole way, AND transferred in for their nap)...Julie and Molly had cleaned and were in the pool.  We had enough fun and drama with the S&S and other distractions!!

Sprinkler Fun!

Not many years that you can do this on May 15!


Mel and I were upstairs planning her wardrobe and hair for her impending wedding to Joey, when she saw Jeff out the front window setting up a sprinkler.  Before I even knew what had happened, she was in the front yard in her bathing suit.  Jeff and Joey had migrated next door, and Joey was having his own, fully-clothed, fun in Tom & Paula's sprinkler, so of course Mel joined right in.  This was big fun (don't ask me why I didn't even take Joey's shoes and socks off)

Happy Mothers Day!

  It was a nice day being a Mommy, and being with my own Mom!

Poppy playing with the kids

Conspiring

Melanie ready to go to the church concert Sunday night.  What you don't see is that she is wearing a swimsuit under this dress.  And as soon as we got to the church, she took her dress off.  Good times.

Indy 500 Kids' Festival

Indiana War Memorial

Soldiers' & Sailors' Monument

I had told Melanie there would be clowns at the festival, so she insisted on bringing Gymbo with us.   Alas, there were no clowns (although a woman gave me a history lesson on Indiana clowns, as she is one).  

Yes, this is the girls eating on a street corner.  Yuuuuck.

As the girls were getting down from the fire truck, the fireman asked if they had any questions.  Molly said yes, so she was asked what her question was.  Her reply:  "My cousin told me she loves me very much."  Good question, Molly!

Hanging out on the firetruck. 

The girls with Indy 500 princesses.  I have to admit, Melanie was expecting Disney princesses.  Hard to remember their frame of reference sometimes......

Cooling off in the fountain after a lot of fun at the Festival!

Playing hopscotch with yet more energy once we got home

Saturday was the Indy 500 Kids' Festival downtown, so I took the girls down for some excellent people watching.  Everything was free, and it was a great time.  They got in two bouncy houses (the Disney Princess one was more than a 30 minute wait!   Amazing what a picture of a princess can do to a group of little girls!), explored a fire truck, checked out all the characters, ran up and down (and up and down and...) the memorials, had lunch, and played in the water fountain.  They have decided they want to do the Chase Kids' Run next year.

Spring Fling 2012

"This is the way we pray...."

Melanie is actually singing!

Melanie - Chickadees

Joey - Cubs

Mel is excited!

Joey cheesing for the camera?

The Friday before Mothers' Day is always the "Spring Fling" at Noah's Ark.  This was Melanie's fourth Spring Fling and Joey's first.  Each year, Mel practices and practices and practices for the production, and then gets in the sanctuary and clams up in front of everyone.  This year she did great!  Joey was getting into it by the end, dancing along; he sang a little bit, and followed the hand motions.  Each class sang 2-3 songs (both Mel and Joe had two each), and then the whole school got together for a few songs.  As always, it was an adorable show.  

Melanie's Fun Weekend

Mel spent Friday night at Molly's house; the girls had fun with crafts, dress-up, a pancake breakfast, and general silliness

Having s'mores at Charlie & Sammie's on Saturday night! Melanie is wearing Sammie's pajamas, because she mooches clothes wherever she goes!

At the Indians game with Daddy on Sunday!

Melanie had her 4-year checkup and I wanted to mark down her "stats" - She weighs 29.6 pounds (6%) and is 40.75 inches tall (61%).  She still struggles keeping 3T pants/shorts to stay on her waist, but wears 3T/4T shirts and size 9 shoes.  She changes clothes a million times a day, loves her baby brother, and is a tornado.

Indianapolis Mini-Marathon

Somehow we ended up in the "back of the pack" - which actually worked out well because I didn't feel claustrophobic waiting for the race to start!  I'm walking with Shelley, Christal & Laura

If anyone knows what the cash prize is for 28,615th place (3:37:34), please let me know!

My friends and I walked the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon at the beginning of May - kicking off the Indy 500 month!  The race is 13.1 miles, and the "highlight" is walking around the actual racetrack. It was a great experience, and the training itself has paid off, getting me off the couch a bit more!  I would definitely do another mini, but I will NEVER run one!  :)  It was an added bonus that Gretchen came down to run it and stayed with us the night before.  I neglected to get a picture of us together, but we had a nice evening, we walked to Stone Creek and ate dinner outside and got caught up!  A fun friends weekend.

Melanie & Joey

After arguing about who got which bench in the wagon, the kids decided to compromise and walk home.  

Aunt Sandy picks out another award-winning gift!

Every day, the kids "practice spring fling" and play school on the steps. 

Joey doesn't even know why they're on this bench, he's just happy to be where his big sister is.

Conferring over dinner 

Sidewalk masterpieces

The kids have lately gotten to the point where they play together for extended periods of time without needing adult interference.  While it means they're growing up, I love watching their relationship develop.  No one puts a smile on either of their faces like the other one does.  Little partners in crime....